TATER

I struggled with my back pack as I lunged through the closing doors and into the vestibule of the Metra West Line, my chariot barely waiting for to carry me home.  The Conductor who witnessed my well timed entry shakes his head at me.  His scornful look suggests that I have just risked life and limb climbing aboard a train that wasn’t yet moving.   I smiled broadly  at him as I brushed past his officious bulk, into my usual car, up the steps to the upper level and into an open seat.

Whew.  I got out my book and placed my back pack in the overhead bin and settled in for the ride home.  I felt her stare as I turned the first page.  She wore a smart executive jacket/skirt combo with just enough leg showing to say she wasn’t all business.  A flirtatious smile played across her lips and lingered in her eyes as she looked me up and down, from across the car.  I am sure I blushed a bit as I resumed scanning my page, flattered but at odds with this pleasant but unwelcome turn of events.

She was with her husband, his arm claiming her against any random violation, his attention  momentarily usurped by the Wall Street Journal article open in his lap, as she played her risky game.  Our eyes meet again, I return her grin and turn my gaze to her husband.

Salt and pepper hair, gorgeous tan.  Sapphire eyes blazing and melting resistance in whomever he directs them, a hot knife through butter, I am momentarily lost.  6”4” at least, solid and athletic, I can picture myself in those arms, I picture many things.  I am trapped.  He catches me looking and I see a look of embarrassed propriety as he rattles his paper and clears his throat. 

I return to my book, trying to resume my place in the page I have read four times with zero comprehension.  This is useless when those gorgeous blue eyes are just calling me to dive into them again.  I glance up and instead, I see her looking at me again.  I smile.  She smirks and looks the other way.  I turn my gaze to him just in time to catch his withering glare.  I give him a wink and return to my book.

They both clear their throats at my transgression, a shuffling of the paper again, and the game is complete.